• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.161-170
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• 2009

Purpose : A parallel imaging method provides us to improve temporal resolution to obtain three-dimensional (3D) MR images. The objective of this study was to optimize three 3D MRI techniques by adjusting 2D SESNE factors of the parallel imaging method in phantom and human brain. Materials and Methods : With a 3 Tesla MRI system and an 8-channel phase-array sensitivity-encoding (SENSE) coil, three 3D MRI techniques of 3D T1-weighted imaging (3D T1WI), 3D T2-weighted imaging (3D T2WI) and 3D fluid attenuated inversion recovery (3D FLAIR) imaging were optimized with adjusting SESNE factors in a water phantom and three human brains. The 2D SENSE factor was applied on the phase-encoding and the slice-encoding directions. Signal-to-noise ratio(SNR), percent signal reduction rate(%R), and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR) were calculated by using signal intensities obtained in specific regions-of-interest (ROI). Results : In the phantom study, SENSE factor = 3 was provided in 0.2% reduction of signals against without using SENSE with imaging within 5 minutes for 3D T1WI. SENSE factor = 2 was provided in 0.98% signal reduction against without using SENSE with imaging within 5 minutes for 3D T2WI. SENSE factor = 4 was provided in 0.2% signal reduction against without using SENSE with imaging around 6 minutes for 3D FLAIR. In the human brain study, SNR and CNR were higher with SENSE factors = 3 than 4 for all three imaging techniques. Conclusion : This study was performed to optimize 2D SENSE factors in the three 3D MRI techniques that can be scanned in clinical time limitations with minimizing SNR reductions. Without compromising SNR and CNR, the optimum 2D SENSE factors were 3 and 4, yielding the scan time of about 5 to 6 minutes. Further studies are necessary to optimize 3D MRI techniques in other areas in human body.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.67-71
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• 2011

Purpose : To compare T2 relaxation times (T2) in the cingulate cortex, amygdaloid body, hippocampal body, and insular cortex between 1.5T and 3.0T MR imagers. Materials and Methods : Twelve healthy volunteers underwent FLAIR and CPMG imaging perpendicular to the hippocampal body at both 3.0T and 1.5T. T2 was measured in the cingulate cortex, amygdaloid body, hippocampal body, and insular cortex. The T2 relaxation time ratios of the cingulate cortex, insular cortex, and amygdaloid body to the hippocampal body were compared between 1.5T and 3.0T. Results : The mean T2 of the cingulate cortex, amygdaloid body, hippocampal body, and insular cortex at 1.5T were $109.5{\pm}3.1$, $117.0{\pm}7.1$, $114.7{\pm}2.4$, and $111.3{\pm}2.4$, respectively; $99.7{\pm}3.8$, $100.7{\pm}4.3$, $97.9{\pm}3.4$, and $96.2{\pm}2.0$, respectively, at 3.0T. Percentage changes of T2 in the cingulate cortex, insular cortex, amygdaloid body, and hippocampal body at 3.0T with respect to those at 1.5T were -8.9%, -13.5%, -14.6%, and -13.5%, respectively. The mean T2 ratios of the cingulate gyrus, insular cortex, and amygdaloid body to the hippocampal body at 1.5T and 3.0T were 0.96 and 1.02 (p = 0.003); 1.02 and 1.03 (p>0.05); 0.97 and 0.98 (p>0.05), respectively. Conclusion : T2 decrease in the cingulate cortex was less than the amygdaloid body, insular cortex, and hippocampal body at 3.0T. The mean T2 ratio of the cingulate gyrus to the hippocampal body was significantly different between 1.5T and 3.0T.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.34-42
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• 2003

In medical imaging, three-dimensional (3D) display using Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) as a portable file format can give intuitive information more efficiently on the World Wide Web (WWW). The web-based 3D visualization of functional images combined with anatomical images has not studied much in systematic ways. The goal of this study was to achieve a simultaneous observation of 3D anatomic and functional models with planar images on the WWW, providing their locational information in 3D space with a measuring implement using VRML. MRI and ictal-interictal SPECT images were obtained from one epileptic patient. Subtraction ictal SPECT co-registered to MRI (SISCOM) was performed to improve identification of a seizure focus. SISCOM image volumes were held by thresholds above one standard deviation (1-SD) and two standard deviations (2-SD). SISCOM foci and boundaries of gray matter, white matter, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the MRI volume were segmented and rendered to VRML polygonal surfaces by marching cube algorithm. Line profiles of x and y-axis that represent real lengths on an image were acquired and their maximum lengths were the same as 211.67 mm. The real size vs. the rendered VRML surface size was approximately the ratio of 1 to 605.9. A VRML measuring tool was made and merged with previous VRML surfaces. User interface tools were embedded with Java Script routines to display MRI planar images as cross sections of 3D surface models and to set transparencies of 3D surface models. When transparencies of 3D surface models were properly controlled, a fused display of the brain geometry with 3D distributions of focal activated regions provided intuitively spatial correlations among three 3D surface models. The epileptic seizure focus was in the right temporal lobe of the brain. The real position of the seizure focus could be verified by the VRML measuring tool and the anatomy corresponding to the seizure focus could be confirmed by MRI planar images crossing 3D surface models. The VRML application developed in this study may have several advantages. Firstly, 3D fused display and control of anatomic and functional image were achieved on the m. Secondly, the vector analysis of a 3D surface model was defined by the VRML measuring tool based on the real size. Finally, the anatomy corresponding to the seizure focus was intuitively detected by correlations with MRI images. Our web based visualization of 3-D fusion image and its localization will be a help to online research and education in diagnostic radiology, therapeutic radiology, and surgery applications.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.40-46
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• 2012

Purpose : To investigate the feasibility of in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) for evaluation of lung cancer. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was approved by the institutional review board of our hospital and informed consent was obtained in all patients. Ten patients (7 men, 3 women; mean age, 64.4) with pathologicallyproven lung cancer (mean, 56.8 mm; range, 44-77 mm) were enrolled to 1.5 T MRS using a single-voxel respiration-triggered point-resolved spectroscopic sequence. Technical success rate and the reason of technical failure, if any, were investigated. Results: Out of 10 lung cancers, analyzable MRS spectra were obtained in 8 tumors (technical success rate, 80%). Two MRS datasets were not able to be analyzed due to serious baseline distortion. Choline and lipid signals were detected as major metabolites in analyzable MRS spectra. Conclusion: In vivo proton MRS method using a single-voxel respiration-triggered point-resolved spectroscopic sequence is feasible in obtaining the MR spectra of lung cancer because these spectra were analyzable and high success rate was shown in our study although there was the limitation of small patient group.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Agricultural Machinery Conference
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• 2017.04a
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• pp.99-99
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• 2017

국내 콩의 소비량은 계속적으로 증가하고 있다. 재배 면적은 1995년 10,000ha에서 2013년 8,000ha까지 계속적으로 감소하였으며, 수입은 2009년 644.9백만 달러에서 2013년 883.3백만 달러까지 계속적인 증가 추세에 있다. 건조는 품질 손상을 최소화 및 수분을 제거하는 공정이다. 모든 곡물에는 건조 조건에 따라서 품질이 크게 변화하며, 건조 과정을 해석하여 해당 곡물의 적정 건조 조건을 구명하여 품질을 유지하는 위해서는 중요하다(Keum, 등 1977). 얇은 두께의 곡물층을 단층으로 하여 건조속도 및 건조공기의 조건을 나타내는 것을 박층(Thin layer)건조모델이라 한다. 박층건조모델을 계속적으로 쌓은 모델을 후층(Deep layer)모델이라 하며, 건조기 개발 및 건조조건 구명에 가장 기본이 된다(Basunia and Abe, 1998). 그러나 해외에서 만들어진 콩 박층건조 모델은 국내의 검은콩과 물성이 상이하여 건조조건이 다르게 설정 되어야 한다. 따라서, 본 연구목적은 건조온도 2수준, 상대습도 3수준에 대하여 검은 콩의 건조속도 측정하고, 곡물건조방정식으로 많이 이용되고 있는 4개의 건조방정식에 대하여 모델 적합성을 검정하여 검은콩 건조에 적합한 박층건조모델 결정하는데 있다. 공시재료는 2015년 강원도지역에서 생산된 검은콩을 실험에 사용하였으며, 초기 함수율은 14.7%,w.b.였다. 박층 건조공기 조성은 공기조화장치(MTH4100, SANYO, UK)를 사용하여 조성하였으며, 송풍기에 의해 공기충만실을 통과하여 건조 층을 통과하도록 구성하였다. 목표 평형함수율에 도달하면 실험을 종료하였다. 건조 층의 초기중량 및 경시적 변화는 전자저울(GF-4000, AND, Japan)을 이용하여 10분 간격 측정하여 저장하였다. 적정 박층건조모델을 결정하기 위하여 기존의 곡물건조방정식 중 널리 사용되고 있는 4개(Lewis, 1921; Page, 1949; Thompson, 1967; Moisture diffusion, 1975)의 건조모델을 이용하여 비교 검증하였다. 건조 초기 2시간 까지는 급격히 감소하다가 건조속도에 영향을 미치는 반건조시간(MR=0.5) 이후에는 완만하게 건조되는 것으로 나타났고 건조조건으로 건조온도 및 상대습도 모두의 영향이 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 4가지 건조 모델과 비교한 결과 Thompson 모델이 전체 건조 영역에서 비교적 잘 일치하였다.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.137-145
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• 2009

Purpose : To compare 12 and 32-element surface coil arrays for highly accelerated coronary magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) using parallel imaging. Materials and Methods : Steady state free precession coronary MRA was performed in 5 healthy volunteers at 1.5 T whole body MR scanner using both 12 and 32-element surface coil arrays. Left anterior descending and right coronary artery data sets were acquired for each volunteer. Data sets were sub-sampled for parallel imaging using reduction factors from 1 to 6. Mean geometry factor (g-factor), maximum g-factor, and artifact level were calculated for each of the two coil arrays. Results : Over all reduction factors, the mean and maximum g-factors and artifact level were significantly reduced using the 32-element array compared to the 12element array (P << 0.1). The mean g-factor was sensitive to the imaging orientations of coronary arteries while the maximum g-factor and artifact level were independent of orientation. Conclusion : The 32-element surface coil array significantly improves artifact and noise suppression for highly accelerated coronary MRA using parallel imaging. The increased acceleration factors made feasible with the 32-element array offer the potential to enhance spatial resolution or increase volumetric coverage for 3D coronary MRA.

• Atmosphere
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.295-308
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• 2015

Based on the CMIP5 historical simulation datasets, we assessed the performance of state-of-the-art climate models in respect to the relationship between interannual variabilities of the North Pacific synoptic eddy (NPSE) and East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM). Observation (ERA-Interim) shows a high negative correlation (-0.73) between the interannual variabilities of East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM) intensity and North Pacific synoptic eddy (NPSE) activity during the period of 1979~2005. Namely, a stronger (weaker) EAWM is related to a weaker (stronger) synoptic eddy activities over the North Pacific. This strong reverse relationship can be well explained by latitudinal distributions of the surface temperature anomalies over East Asian continent, which leads the variation of local baroclinicity and significantly weakens the baroclinic wave activities over the northern latitudes of $40^{\circ}N$. This feature is supported by the distribution of the meridional heat flux (${\overline{{\nu}^{\prime}{\theta}^{\prime}}}$) anomalies, which have negative (positive) values along the latitudes $40{\sim}50^{\circ}N$ for strong(weak) EAWM years. In this study, the historical simulations by 11 CMIP5 climate models (BCC-CSM1.1, CanESM2, GFDL-ESM2G, GFDL-ESM2M, HadGEM2-AO, HadGEM2-CC, IPSL-CM5A-LR, MPI-ESM-LR, MPI-ESM-MR, MRI-CGCM3, and NorESM1-M) are analyzed for DJF of 1979~2005. Correlation coefficient between the two phenomena is -0.59, which is comparable to that of observation. Model-to-model variation in this relationship is relatively large as the range of correlation coefficient is between -0.76 (HadGEM2-CC and HadGEM2-AO) and -0.33 (MRI-CGCM3). But, these reverse relationships are shown in all models without any exception. We found that the multi-model ensemble is qualitatively similar to the observation in reasoning (that is, latitudinal distribution of surface temperature anomalies, variation of local baroclinicity and meridional heat flux by synoptic eddies) of the reverse relationship. However, the uncertainty for weak EAWM is much larger than strong EAWM. In conclusion, we suggest that CMIP5 models as an ensemble have a good performance in the simulation of EAWM, NPSE, and their relationship.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.123-129
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• 2011

Purpose : To compare lumbar disc changes between initial lumbar spine (L-spine) MRI and follow-up (f/u) MRI that were performed due to recurred backaches. Materials and Methods : A total 50 patients who had undergone f/u L-spine MRI were retrospectively reviewed. Five discs (L1-S1) were surveyed in each f/u MRI. Lumbar disc changes were defined as no change, aggravations, or improvements compared to initial disc states. These states were defined on the basis of morphologic status and disc levels. Results : In a total of 250 discs in 50 patients, 31 discs (12.4%) showed morphologic changes of disc lesions, whereas 219 discs (87.6 %) showed no changes. Among the 31 disc lesions, 24 were aggravated and 7 were partially improved. And on the basis of disc status, initially abnormal discs revealed any morphologic changes of the degree of disc herniation. A total of 33.3% of the morphologic changes are noted in initially extruded discs. Fifteen morphologic changes of disc lesions were located at the L4-5 level. Conclusion : Our results suggest that correlations between lumbar disc herniations and back pain symptoms are limited, and that evaluations of extra disc lesions are required.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.373-382
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• 2000

Temporomandibular disorders arised from joint itself was caused by inflammation or mechanical irritation of the retrodiskal tissues. Histologic changes of the retrodiskal tissues of temporomandibular joint(TMJ) internal derangement, such as inflammatory cell infiltration, hyalinization, myxoid change, fatty change, arterial obliteration, and so on, were reported, but relationships between magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) findings and histologic findings of the retrodiskal tissue were few reported. The purpose of this study was to find histologic changes of the retrodiskal tissues for status of joint and joint effusion in MRI of the temporomandibular joint which had surgical treatment. Materials were surgically treated 52 temporomandibular joints with internal derangement or osteoarthritis in TMJ clinic, Yongdong Severance Hospital. All joints were confirmed by magnetic resonance T1- and T2-weighted imagings bofere surgery. Status of joint was categorized by normal position, disc displacement with reduction, disc displacement without reduction, disc displacement without reduction associated with osteoarthrosis using preoperative MR T1-weighted images. Magnetic resonance evidence of joint effusion was observed in T2-weighted images and classified by its amount; degree 0(not observed), degree 1(small amount), degree 2(moderate amount), degree 3(large amount). Histologic features were observed whether the retrodiskal tissue has inflammatory cell infiltration, myxoid change, hyalinization, chondroid metaplasia and arterial obliteration. The distribution of elastic fibers were also observed. The results were as follows; 1. Inflammatory cell infiltration was not observed in any retrodiskal tissues. 2. MRI findings such as status of joint and evidence of joint effusion did not have significant relationship with myxoid change, hyalinization, chondroid metaplasia, arterial obliteration of the retrodiskal tissues. 3. Hyalinization and chondroid metaplasia were found in 8 joints(15.4%) and 5 joints(9.6%). All of them were found in disc displacement without reduction and disc displacement without reduction associated with osteoarthrosis. 4. Arterial obliteration was observed more frequently in disc displacement without reduction(55.6%) than disc displacement without reduction associated with osteoarthrosis(28.6%). Further studies with proper controls and more materials will be necessary.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.42-47
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• 2007

Purpose: To evaluate the tracing of optic nerve tract using manganese enhanced magnetic resonance Imaging. Materials and Methods: After injecting $30{\mu}l$ of $MnCl_2(1mol)$ (1 mol) Into the retina of female New Zealand white rabbit, the contrast enhancements at major anatomical structures of optic nerve tract were evaluated by high resolution T1-weighted Images 12 hours, 24 hours, and 48 hours after $MnCl_2(1mol)$ Injection using 3D FSPGR (Fast Speiled Gradient Recalled echo) pulse sequence at 1.5T clinical MR scanner with high performance gradient system. Also, for quantitative evaluation, the signal-to-noise ratios of circular ROI on anatomical locations were measured. Results: The major structures on the optic nerve tract were enhanced after injecting $MnCl_2(1mol)$. The structures, which showed enhancement, were right optic nerve, optic chiasm, left optic tract, left lateral geniculate nucleus, left superior colliculus. The structures on the contralateral optic pathway to the right retina were enhanced whereas the structures on the ipsilateral pathway did not show enhancement. Conclusion: The Mn transport through axonal pathway of optic nerve sys)em was non- invasively observed after injecting injecting $MnCl_2$ at the retina, which is the end terminal of optic nerve system. This Mn transport seems to occur by voltage gated calcium $(Ca^{2+})$ channel and In case of direct Injection Into the retina, the fast transpori pathway of voltage gated calcium channel seems to be responsible for Mn transport.